Thea Foundation announces significant fund increase for 2021-2022 scholarship competition

Thea Foundation is excited to announce the 2021-2022 scholarship competition will more than double the amount granted to Arkansas high school seniors from 2020/2021. The Foundation will continue to offer 36 scholarships, with an increase in offerings from $80,000 to $219,000.

"The Thea Foundation Board of Directors is extremely happy to renew our commitment to the students of this state this school year by offering more scholarship dollars for their creative and artistic abilities. We are proud of this legacy program, and our partners in education reflect that same pride through their agreements to commit more of their dollars towards these amounts," stated Trish Roberson, Thea Foundation Board President.

For the 2021/2022 competition, all submissions in all categories will be conducted online. There will now be only five categories: Visual Arts - 10 scholarships; Performing Arts 10 scholarships; Creative Writing - 10 scholarships; Film 3 scholarships; Fashion Design 3 scholarships.

Each first place winner will be awarded $10,000. Slam Poetry entries can be submitted under either the Performing Arts or Creative Writing categories. In celebration of Thea Foundation's 20th Anniversary, and a nod to challenges faced in 2020/2021, the scholarship theme will be “Reflection/Refraction.”

"We are so proud and grateful for our community of supporters who, years ago, were focused on investing in the futures of Arkansas students. We are excited to continue to grow this program and give more hard working, creative students an opportunity to achieve their dreams," stated Nick Leopoulos, Thea Foundation Executive Director.

These annual scholarships are a critical resource for helping young people across the state receive financial help for higher education. Each of the five arts-based competitions provide Arkansas seniors with an opportunity to find money for college based on their talent alone. The organization’s first scholarship was awarded in 2002, and Thea Foundation has awarded more than $2.6 million in scholarships to Arkansas students since then.

“Win and I were inspired to endow one of Thea Foundation's film scholarships because we value the importance of arts education, in all of its forms. By investing in Thea, we are investing in the future,” stated Thea Foundation supporter, Natalie Rockefeller.

For more details and deadlines regarding this year’s scholarship competition, visit theafoundaiton.org/scholarships.

Thea Foundation’s mission is to advocate the importance of the Arts in the development of our youth. Three programs are implemented statewide to support this mission—Thea Scholarships, Art Closet and Arts Reconstruction. As we celebrate our Since 2002, Thea Foundation has awarded 472 scholarships totalling over $2.6 million to Arkansas students and provided more than $1.6 million in art supplies and creative materials to underfunded schools through our Art Closet program. In addition, Arts Reconstruction is our focused effort to help teachers receive professional development and supplies to enable a better platform to advance in their own careers and schools. Our collective aim is to enrich young minds through the power of the Arts.

Named for the daughter of Paul and Linda Leopoulos, Thea Foundation carries on the legacy of Thea Kay Leopoulos, who thrived academically, socially and emotionally thanks to her artistic pursuits.